NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

 The NSF GRFP is a prestigious five-year fellowship that provides three years of financial support with an annual stipend of $37,000 [concurrent TA/RA appointments are permitted]. The grant is housed in the Graduate College and we ensure that fellows incur no costs in those three years AND have opportunities to seek additional funds for conference travel and research supplies/materials (including hardware and software). Benn Williams works with fellows who seek an NSF-remunerated, non-academic internship through NSF’s INTERN program.

• NSF INTERN (DCL)

The NSF encourages applications from undergraduate seniors and Bachelor’s degree-holders interested in pursuing research-based graduate study in STEM. Those who have completed no more than one academic year in a graduate program in eligible STEM fields and degree programs are also encouraged to apply. The competition is only open to U.S. citizens, nationals, and permanent residents.

Let’s be honest: the criteria are a bit tricky to comprehend. There is an “eligibility quiz” available below. Likewise, eligible fields (as of 2023 competition) are also below.

• NSF GRFP Eligibility Quiz
• Eligible Fields (2023)

June: Info sessions and make Zoom appointment with the appropriate grad or undergrad advisor

July:  Start drafting essays; competition formally opens (mid-July)

July – August 14: Work with scientific mentor and Graduate College staff

August 15: Priority deadline of full application for assistance from the Graduate College

National deadlines: mid-October

NSF supports approximately 2,500 new Graduate Research Fellowships per fiscal year. The fellowship funding is for a maximum of three years of financial support (in 12-month allocations, starting in fall) usable over a five-year fellowship period. There is no post-graduate study nor service requirement. The annual solicitation is published in June-July, the deadlines are in October (they vary by discipline), and the announcement of recipients and honorable mentions is in early April.

The Fellowship is “portable.” It can be transferred to a different institution of higher education if a Fellow chooses to transfer to another institution before or after completion of the first Fellowship year.

The fellowship funds are managed by the institution. The Graduate Research Fellowship stipend is $37,000 for a 12-month tenure period paid in monthly increments of $3,083. The Cost of Education (COE) allowance provides the institution payment in lieu of tuition and mandatory fees and is $16,000 per year of fellowship support  (to be used at the institution’s discretion). Concurrent TA/RA appointments are permitted with the fellowship. Students decide annually whether to be “on tenure” or “on reserve” for the subsequent academic year. There is no stipend nor COE while a fellow is on reserve.

Fellows with disabilities may apply for assistance after consulting the instructions in the document NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials.

Fellows can apply for supplemental funding to sustain research while on medical deferral (e.g., family leave).

Fellows are eligible to apply for non-academic INTERN supplements following guidance specific to GRFP.

Review the full details in the NSF award solicitation (below).

Applications are submitted via research.gov.

The maximum length of the Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals Statement is three (3) pages (PDF). The maximum length of the Graduate Research Plan Statement is two (2) pages (PDF). These page limits include all references, citations, charts, figures, images, and lists of publications and presentations. Applicants must certify that the two statements (Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals Statement, and Graduate Research Plan Statement) in the application are their own original work.

Transcripts: In the application, applicants must list their undergraduate institution, and all graduate institutions attended with a start date prior to the fall term in which the application is submitted. Transcripts are required for all degree-granting programs listed. Transcripts may be included for all other institutions listed in the Education section. If the applicant started at the current institution in the fall of the application year and the institution does not provide unofficial or official transcripts prior to completion of the first term, the applicant may submit a class schedule/enrollment verification form in place of a transcript. At least one transcript must be included for the application to be accepted by the GRFP Application Module.

Reference Letters: A minimum of two reference letters must be received from non-family members by the application deadline. Applications without two references will not be reviewed. Reference writers cannot be family members of the applicant. Applicants are required to provide the name and contact information for three (3) reference writers from non-family members. Up to five (5) potential reference letter writers can be provided. [Tip: Include five in case one letter writer has an emergency or technical issues – life happens! Be prepared.]

Application Deadline(s): By 5 p.m. local time of applicant’s mailing address on the appointed day in mid-October. Dates vary based on field; we will update by mid-August.

• October 16, 2023: Life Sciences
• October 17, 2023: Computer and Information Science and Engineering, Materials Research, Psychology, Social Sciences, STEM Education and Learning
• October 19, 2023: Engineering
• October 20, 2023: Chemistry, Geosciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physics and Astronomy

Selection Criteria

All NSF proposals are evaluated using two National Science Board approved merit review criteria. Each criterion is necessary but neither, by itself, is sufficient. Therefore, proposers must fully address both criteria.

When evaluating NSF proposals, reviewers will be asked to consider what the proposers want to do, why they want to do it, how they plan to do it, how they will know if they succeed, and what benefits could accrue if the project is successful. These issues apply both to the technical aspects of the proposal and the way in which the project may make broader contributions. To that end, reviewers will be asked to evaluate all proposals against two criteria:

• Intellectual Merit: the potential to advance knowledge; and
• Broader Impacts: the potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes.

The following elements should be considered in the review for both criteria:

1. What is the potential for the proposed activity to:
   1. Advance knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields (Intellectual Merit); and
   2. Benefit society or advance desired societal outcomes (Broader Impacts)?
2. To what extent do the proposed activities suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts?
3. Is the plan for carrying out the proposed activities well-reasoned, well-organized, and based on a sound rationale? Does the plan incorporate a mechanism to assess success?
4. How well qualified is the individual, team, or organization to conduct the proposed activities?
5. Are there adequate resources available (either at the home organization or through collaborations) to carry out the proposed activities?

Additionally, Chapter II of the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide states:

Broader impacts may be accomplished through the research itself, through the activities that are directly related to specific research projects, or through activities that are supported by, but are complementary to, the project. NSF values the advancement of scientific knowledge and activities that contribute to achievement of societally relevant outcomes. Such outcomes include, but are not limited to: full participation of women, persons with disabilities, and underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); improved STEM education and educator development at any level; increased public scientific literacy and public engagement with science and technology; improved well-being of individuals in society; development of a diverse, globally competitive STEM workforce; increased partnerships between academia, industry, and others; improved national security; increased economic competitiveness of the US; and enhanced infrastructure for research and education.

 Find the full details on the NSF selection criteria.

• Application Module
• UIC Enrollment Verification
• Information for Letter Writers
• Grant-Writing Materials
• Alex Lang's Tips for the NSF GRFP